Adjustable clamp



June 15, 1943. H. F. HEATON ADJUSTABLE CLAMP Filed July 29, 1941 h; Ef/ea. i0 71,,

INVENTOR Patented June 15, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,321,911 rADJUSTABLE CLAMP Harold E. Heaton, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application July 29, 1941, Serial No. 1,04,557

(Cl. 14,4 Q

4 Claims.

This invention relates to clamps, and more particularly to portableclamps known as vice clamps.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a vice clamp of theadjustable type, which is exceptionally quick acting, and one which canbe operated to securely grip the article with which the clamp is used.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clamp having means foradjusting the movable jaw thereof with respect to the stationary jaw,and an operating lever for imparting the final clamping movement to themovable jaw, the operating lever being connected to the movable jaw insuch a way that the movable jaw will be securely held against movementwhen it has been moved to its clamping position.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein described, may be made within thescope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevational View of a clamp constructed in accordancewith the invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the reference character 5 designatesthe stationary jaw of the clamp, which is mounted at one end of the bar6, the stationary jaw embodying spaced parallel arms 1 to which the jawface 8 is secured, the jaw face 8 embodying a heavy metallic memberformed with recesses to receive the ends of the arms I, as shown byFigure 2 of the drawing.

Screws indicated at 5 extend into threaded openings formed in the endsof the jaw face 8, and pass through openings formed in the ends of thearms 1, the openings in the arms I, registering with the openings in thejaw face 8.

Formed along the upper edge of the bar 6, are teeth It that cooperatewith the worm II to adjust the tubular handle l2, longitudinally of thebar 6. This worm II is mounted for rotary movement on the shaft [3 thatin turn is pivotally mounted on the tubular member l2, at

I4. One end of the shaft 13 extends beyond the end of the worm II, whereit is engaged by the latch IS, the latch being normally held into en-.gagement with the shaft l3, by means of the coiled spring l6 mounted ina recess formed in the handle l2. Thus it. will be seen that pressingonthe latch |5, releasing the shaft I3, the shaft l3 may be swungupwardly moving the worm out of engagement with the teeth H1, permittingthe handle to slide freely. By

this movement of the handle, the main adjustment of the vice may bequickly made.

The sliding jaw of the clamp, is indicated by the referencecharacter l1and also embodies a length of metal bent upon itself to provide anopening through which the bar 6 extends, the movable jaw being slidableon the bar 6. The ends of the material of which the movable jaw isconstructed, extend forwardly providing arms l8 that are connected bythe jaw face l9. Pivotally connected to the movable jaw, are links 20,which links also have pivotal connection with the lever 2| at 22, thelever 2| also being connected with the forward end of the tubular handlel2 at 23. Formed on the inner end of the lever 2|, are inwardly extendedflanges 24 that are adapted to engage over the upper edges of the links20 providing stops, to limit the downward movement of the forward end ofthe lever 2|.

In operating the clamp, the clamp is positioned over the article to beheld therein, and the latch I5 is operated, releasing the worm Thehandle I2 is now moved to move the jaw i! into engagement with thearticle to be clamped. The worm II is now moved into engagement with theteeth IU of the bar 6, and the latch is moved to engage the shaft l3,whereby the worm II is held into engagement with the teeth H1. The lever2| is now moved upwardly causing the movable jaw to closely engage thearticle being clamped. As the lever 2| swings upwardly towards thehandle l2, the point of connection between the links 20 and lever 2|,moves downwardly past dead center, Locking the movable jaw in itsclamping posiion.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have not only provided anexceptionally quick-acting vice, but a vice which, when positioned on anarticle will securely grip the article, insuring against movement of thevice with respect to the articl gripped.

What is claimed is:

1, A quick-acting clamp, comprising a bar,

teeth formed along one edge of the bar, a stationary jaw at one end ofthe bar, a removable jaw on the bar, a handle mounted for movementlongitudinally of the bar, a pivoted shaft mounted on the handle, a wormon the shaft and adapted rto engage the teeth of the bar whereby thehandle is adjusted along the bar, means for holding the bar and worm intheir active positions with respect to the teeth, said shaft adapted toswing upwardly disengaging the worm vand. teeth whereby the handle mayhe slid along th bar, a lever mounted on the handle, links connectingthe lever and movable jaw, and said lever adapted to operate the jawindependently of the handle.

teeth formed along one edge of the bar, a stationary jaw at one end ofthe bar, a movable jaw on the bar, a vertically swinging shaft mountedon the handle, a worm on the shaft and adapted to engage the teeth ofthe bar whereby the handle is adjusted longitudinally of the bar, alatch adapted to engage the shaft and hold the shaft against verticalmovements whereby the worm is held into engagement with the teeth, saidlatch member adapted to release the shaft and worm, whereby the handlemay move longitudinally of the bar, a lever mounted on the handle, linksconnecting the lever and movable jaw, and said lever adapted to operatethe movable jaw with respect to the stationary jaw, independently of thehandle.

3. A quick-acting clamp, comprising a bar, teeth formed along one edgeof the bar, a sta- 2. A quick-acting clamp, comprising a bar,

tionary jaw at one end of the bar, a movable jaw on the bar, a handleslidable over the bar, a worm carried by the handle and adapted toengage the teeth of the bar whereby rotary movement of the worm adjuststhe handle longitudinally of the bar, means for mounting the worm forvertical swinging movement, said means comprising a shaft, a latch fornormally holding the shaft in its active position adjacent to the bar, alever pivotally connected with the handle, and links connecting thelever and movable jaw for operating the movable jaw independently of thehandle.

4. A quick-acting clamp, comprising a bar, teeth formed along one edgeof the bar, a stationaryjaw at one end of the bar, a movable jaw mountedon the bar, a handle movable longitudinally of the bar, said handlehaving a cut-out portion, a shaft pivotally mounted on th handleadjacent to the cut-out portion, a worm mounted on the shaft and adaptedto engage the teeth of the bar whereby the handle is adjustedlongitudinally of the bar, a latch member on the handle adapted toengage the shaft by holding the shaft in its active position, said latchmember adapted to release the shaft whereby the shaft and worm are swungupwardly to disengage the bar, whereby the handle may move freely alongthe bar, a lever connected with the handle, links connecting the leverwith th movable jaw, and said lever adapted to operate to move themovable jaw independently of the handle.

HAROLD F. HEA'ION.

